Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/477

Rh Nor so far blame I destiny.

But may the all-seeing Father send

In fitting time propitious end;

So our dread Mother's mighty brood,

The lordly couch may 'scape, ah me,

Unwedded, unsubdued!

Meeting my will with will divine,

Daughter of Zeus who here dost hold

Stedfast thy sacred shrine,—

Me, Artemis unstained, behold.

Do thou, who sovereign might dost wield,

Virgin thyself, a virgin shield;

So our dread Mother's mighty brood,

The lordly couch may 'scape, ah me,

Unwedded, unsubdued!

But if she hide her face

Our swart, sun-smitten race,

Bearing our wool-wreathed boughs, to Zeus will go,

Lord of the dead below,

Hailer of many a guest.

To him our suppliant train

Will wend, by nooses slain,

If gods Olympian heed not our request.

Oh Zeus, for Io's sake,

The wrath of heav'n, alas, doth us o'ertake;